God works in situations we can’t always imagine, but calls people to act when the moment is right. What have we been called to do in such a time as this?

Worship this week with Holy Communion:

Saturday  – 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel
Sunday  –  8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship
9:30 a.m. Sunday School
10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for the week:
December 7, 2014                                               “For such a time as this”

Reflect: [Modecai said,] And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b

Study:   King Ahasuerus was ruler over Persia at the time of the exile. Having eliminated one queen, Vashti, for refusing to degrade herself in front of his drunken feast’s guests, the King chose Esther to become his new queen. Queen Esther was a beautiful Jewish woman. King Ahasuerus promoted a man named Haman above even the princes. One day while Haman entered the king’s gate he passed by Mordecai, a Jew. Mordecai refused to bow to Haman because Jews bowed only to Yahweh. Haman became enraged and plotted to have Mordecai killed.

   Haman approached the king and requested the king’s approval to put out a bounty and a decree that all Jews would be put to death.

   Mordecai put on sackcloth and sat in ash – a traditional form of Jewish lament. He then turned to his niece, Esther, who had become queen, for help. He implored her to ask the king to change his mind. Esther feared a wrathful reply. Mordecai reminded her that God may have put her in the king’s house for such a time as this. Esther agreed, and the king agreed to her request, and the Jews were saved.

Read: Sunday, Esther 4:1-17, Esther

Monday, Esther 1:1-22, King Ahasuerus Deposes Queen Vashti

Tuesday, Esther 2:1-23, Esther Becomes Queen

Wednesday, Esther 3:1-15, Haman Undertakes to Destroy the Jews

Thursday, Esther 5:1-14, Esther’s Banquet, Haman’s Plans

Friday, Esther 6:1-14, The King Honors Mordecai

Saturday, Esther 7:1—8:17, Esther Saves the Jews

• How did God use Esther to save God’s people? Where was God present, explicitly and implicitly in this story?
• How is beauty celebrated in your culture or community? How is beauty advantageous? How is it detrimental?

·         Where will you look for evidence of God’s presence in your life?

As we begin the Advent season we look forward to God’s redemption, joining our expectations to those of Habakkuk and many other who have longed for the coming Messiah.

Worship this weekend – Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in Chapel

Sunday – Combined worship at 10:00 a.m.

Devotions for the week:

November 30, 2014             “Faith as a Way of Life”

Habakkuk was a prophet who spoke to Jerusalem when it was just about to fall to Babylonian exile. The people had not believed they could be conquered, and yet exile was at their doorstep. Their faith in God wavered, and they questioned where God was.

God responded to Habakkuk’s plea, “How long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen?” God’s response promised that those who live by faith can endure great suffering. God suggested faith as a way of life. Faith is stronger than despair.  God gives them hope for a new day!

Read:  Follow the book of Habakkuk, as the prophet proclaims both judgment and the promise of restoration.

Sunday, Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:2-4; 3:17-19, Faith as a Way of Life

Monday, Habakkuk 1:5-11, The Prophet’s Complaint

Tuesday, Habakkuk 1:12—2:1, The Prophet’s Complaint

Wednesday, Habakkuk 2:5-14, The Woes of the Wicked

Thursday, Habakkuk 2:15-20, The Woes of the Wicked

Friday, Habakkuk 3:1-7, The Woes of the Wicked

Saturday, Habakkuk 3:8-16, The Woes of the Wicked

• What was God doing here?
• How were the people’s actions punished or rewarded?
• Where do you feel your community is isolated from God? Where do you feel it is close to God?
• When has your faith in God been tested? In what ways have your beliefs changed as you learn and grow?

Bless: Close your devotion with a blessing.

God our strength, we rejoice in you as we hear your word. Speak faith and patience to us today. Amen.

 

 

Begin your Thanksgiving celebration by taking time to honor the Giver of all good things as we join for a special service of Thanksgiving at 10:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning.  We are privileged to have the ELC Senior Choir join in this beautiful traditional worship service!

At a young age Jeremiah was called to speak a word that exposed the corruption of the people. Are we willing to listen to the voices that expose the injustices in our way of living?

Worship this week:

Saturday — 5:00 p.m. in the chapel

Sunday — 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 a.m.  Sunday School

10:30 a.m.  Contemporary Worship

7:00 p.m.  — Community Thanksgiving Worship at Perry Lutheran Church

Devotions for the week:

November 23, 2014                                                   “Amend your ways”

      By the time of Jeremiah, the Babylonian king had defeated Assyria (who had defeated the Northern Kingdom of Israel). The Babylonian king now threatened to destroy Judah (the Southern Kingdom). Jeremiah spoke on God’s behalf, with judgments for a people who seemed to have forgotten how to remain faithful to God. God’s promise of deliverance still rang throughout Jeremiah’s prophesies, yet God showed God won’t stand idly by while the people sin. God’s promise would be kept, but not until the people had endured punishment (exile) for their unfaithfulness to God.

 Read:Follow the story of Israel’s and Judah’s disobedience, and the words of God’s prophet, Jeremiah.

Sunday, Jeremiah 1:4-10; 7:1-11, Jeremiah’s Temple Sermon

Monday, Jeremiah 7:16-34, The People’s Disobedience

Tuesday, Jeremiah 8:18-9:11, The Prophet Mourns for the People

Wednesday, Jeremiah 10:1-10, Idolatry Has Brought Ruin on Israel

Thursday, Jeremiah 10:11-16, Idolatry Has Brought Ruin on Israel

Friday, Jeremiah 10:17-25, The Coming Exile

Saturday, Jeremiah 11:1-17, Israel and Judah Have Broken the Covenant

• How does mourning and lament shape the communities of Israel and Judah? What role does mourning play in shaping our lives?
• What evidence have you seen that God remains faithful to people today, despite people’s inability to remain faithful to God?
• When you were a child, what did you believe you would do to make the world a better place? What can you do now to make the world a better place?

Do:Do something this week that leaves the world in a better place than before you arrived. (Plant something, create something artistic, enhance a relationship, forgive someone, care for someone who is sick)

Bless: God of Power, remind us through your word that you are at work everywhere through the actions of your people. Move in our hearts this day. Amen.

When the people of Israel were threatened would they give in to fear, or trust God’s promise? We may also feel the same pressures, and must answer the same questions.

Worship with Holy Communion this week:

Saturday – 5:00 p.m. in Chapel

Sunday – 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Devotions for the week of November 16, 2014               

                          “Swords into Plowshares”

        This first part of Isaiah was written for Judah (the Southern Kingdom), whose borders were being threatened by Assyria, the same country that had already conquered Samaria and defeated Israel a few hundred years before. The Rabshakeh (the chief steward of the king of Assyria, and messenger) threatened Judah and invited the people to surrender, promising they would be taken care of. King Hezekiah of Judah remained faithful to God, asking Isaiah to plead to God on behalf of Judah. God heard King Hezekiah’s plea and saved Judah from the Assyrian king. Once again, God’s promise of deliverance was kept.

Read:Follow the story of Hezekiah and Isaiah, and how God saved them from conquest and exile for many years.

Sunday, Isaiah 36:1-3, 13-20; 37:1-7; 2:1-4, Swords into Plowshares

Monday, Isaiah 36:4-12, Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem

Tuesday, Isaiah 37:8-13, Hezekiah Consults Isaiah

Wednesday, Isaiah 37:14-29, Hezekiah’s Prayer

Thursday, Isaiah 37:30-38, Sennacherib’s Defeat and Death

Friday, Isaiah 38:1-22, Hezekiah’s Illness

Saturday, Isaiah 39:1-8, Envoys from Babylon Welcomed

• How did God respond to Hezekiah’s words and actions? What were God’s promises to God’s people?
• How do you suppose God decides how to arbitrate when communities are at odds with each other?
• When have you trusted in God at a time when trusting took great courage? How did it turn out?

Do:Keep a prayer journal. Record your prayers and how God answers them.

Bless:God most powerful, speak confidence and courage to your people in the reading of your word today. Amen.